If a job exceeds its planned completion date, and the employer and contractor enter into a spontaneous deal, where does this leave the architect?

Architects must administer work in accordance with the terms of the contract that they have agreed to. If an employer and contractor strike such a deal, it is likely they have repudiated the terms of the contract that the architect signed up for. Under these circumstances, an architect should seek legal advice and representation, as (s)he could potentially bring a claim for damages against the employer.